New Zealand’s 3-0 whitewash over India last year in the Test series was a shock, a jolt. South Africa, with their 2-0 victory in the two-Test series this month, has been a proper annihilation of the Indian cricket team, who were almost unbeatable at home for the better part of the dozen years from 2013 to 2024.
From January 2013 to the end of 2023, India lost only three Test matches at home. Yes, just three Test defeats in 10 years. However, since the start of 2024, India have lost six Tests.
More shockingly, they have suffered two series defeats in the past 13 months, getting blanked 3-0 and 2-0 by New Zealand and South Africa, under head coach Gautam Gambhir, who should be sacked as the Test coach, the Indian fans feel.
In the IND vs SA 1st Test in Kolkata, on a square-turning pitch with inconsistent bounce, India lost by 30 runs after being bowled out for only 93 runs in the chase of 124.
While that was a bowling-friendly surface, Guwahati offered a good cricketing pitch for its maiden Test match. Yet, in the IND vs SA 2nd Test, too, the hosts were outplayed by the visitors. And outplayed comprehensively throughout the match: India suffered their largest ever defeat in terms of runs in Test cricket—408 runs!
Temba Bavuma won the toss in Guwahati and elected to bat first. Indian bowlers fought hard on day 1, keeping the Proteas to 247/6. However, from the first session of day 2 onwards, the Proteas surged ahead in the match.
Senuran Muthusamy’s century and Marco Jansen’s 93 meant South Africa posted a huge first innings total of 489. In reply to which, India were knocked over for 201 runs with the lanky Jansen claiming a six-for.
South Africa didn’t enforce the follow-on and made India “grovel” in the field for 78.3 more overs, setting an unassailable target of 549 runs. Off-spinner Simon Harmer recorded his best bowling figures in a Test innings of 6/37 to bundle India for only 140 runs.
Jansen was named the Player of the Match for his terrific all-round show. Harmer, who had a disastrous Test tour of India in 2015 as a youngster, had his redemption: Harmer was named the Player of the Series for his 17 wickets at an average of 8.94.
Where South Africa had loads of positives and achievements to take away from this series, including their first Test series win in India since 2000, the hosts have more questions to answer than they did at the start of the series.
What kind of surfaces they should prepare for home Tests is now a perplexing question for Gambhir and co., as India lost on a challenging pitch in Kolkata and a good pitch in Guwahati. That is, if Gambhir doesn’t get sacked as the Test coach.
Fans of the Indian cricket team have been lamenting the last 12 months of disappointing performances in Test cricket under Gambhir.
IND vs SA: Check out Twitter reactions as fans lash out at Gautam Gambhir
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